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[Page 54]
The whole of my party landed from the Destroyers about 7.a.m. being accompanied by Captain Pockley, A.M.C. and one wireless rating. I understood that the "Sydney" party would be landed at Herbertshohe about the same time.
We landed at a small wharf seized one Chinaman and four native guides, searched all houses for Whitemen and finding none commandeered two horses for packs and to be used for reinforcing purposes. Having frightened the guides with my revolver (as there was a strong indication that everyone ashore had been sworn into silence by the Germans) I located the road and probable locality of the W/T station, extended my firing line sent forward the scouts, and advanced.
As the telephone line led along this road and natives from the beach appeared to scatter in all directions I cut the line in several places.
Nine men were sent to me by Commander (D) to be used as connecting files from my supports to the shore, these proved very valuable to me as will be shown later. Our progress of advance was slow as the demeanour of the natives on the beach indicated to me that they expected some unusual happening as we advanced into the scrub. When I had advanced about three quarters of a mile two white scouts were seen taking cover. I was in extended order right up to this point and after advancing another quarter of a mile I found the thick scrub had cut off four of my men on the right flank and I gave the order to close to the left, in doing so they came across the enemy who immediately opened rapid fire on my men. The firing continued for about ten minutes when my men returned to me, Petty Officer Palmer being accompanied by a wounded German scout.
I threatened